‘AGT’ Winner Grace VanderWaal Mourns the Death of Her Mother
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America’s Got Talent Season 11 winner Grace VanderWaal recently shared the sad news that her mother Tina passed away. Tina had battled breast cancer for 17 months before her death at age 53. Grace paid tribute to her mom on Instagram.
Grace VanderWaal Mourns the Death of Her Mother
On Tuesday, Grace posted a series of photos and videos of her mom on Instagram, writing in the caption, “Can’t yet find the words. I love you mommy. So much. I wake up and want to call you. I don’t know how to move forward with you. I love you.”
Entertainment Now reports that Grace’s father Dave shared more details of Tina’s passing in a Facebook post. He wrote that she passed away on October 20, adding, “She was a fighter to the end of her long, 17-month battle with cancer, always finding a positive outlook no matter what — for herself and, even more importantly, for others facing the same difficult journey.”
Tina was reportedly diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer in June 2024. She and Dave were married for 27 years, during which time they welcomed three children together — Jakob, Olivia, and Grace.
Tina posted about her cancer battle on social media. In September, she posted a video to Instagram sharing that she had completed her second round of radiation treatment, and had eight more to go. In her Instagram bio, Tina described herself as a silversmith and glass artist.
SEE ALSO: GRACE VANDERWAAL SAYS ‘I WASN’T A SINGER’ AHEAD OF ‘AGT’ AUDITION
The Singer Talked About Her Mom Earlier This Year
Grace VanderWaal was 12 years old when she won Season 11 of America’s Got Talent in 2016. Now 21, the singer released a new album called Childstar earlier this year. In April, she spoke to Teen Vogue about her experience with fame at a young age.
“My mom is literally the funniest, most loudest, most just everything woman. You’ll hear her laugh watching the TV from three floors up,” Grace said of her mother, later sharing of her early success, “My mom was with me everywhere I went.”
Grace has received an outpouring of love in the comments of her recent Instagram post grieving her mother’s death — including one from Fifth Harmony star Lauren Jauregui, who wrote, “sending you so much love angel.”
